Department for Transport

Cycling: Safety

Lord Bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to protect cyclists from collisions with heavy goods vehicles.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Road safety including reducing the instances of cyclists being killed or seriously injured, particularly by heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) is a subject that we take extremely seriously. Government has helped encourage and develop better HGV design and will continue to do so.　　 The Department for Transport will be consulting on a Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS). Our plans to tackle cyclist safety and fatalities caused by all vehicle types, including HGVs will form a key part of this document.

Roads: Damage

Lord Bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the latest figures for the mileage of structural damage to highways under the management of (1) the Highways Agency, and (2) local authorities (in respect of trunk roads); and what assessment they have made of the cost of eliminating that backlog.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: In 2014/15, 94.9% or 4,128 miles of the highways under the Highways Agency (now Highways England) responsibility remained in good condition and did not require maintenance. Local authorities are not responsible for trunk roads as Highways England manage them.   In 2014/15, the Highways Agency spent £747m for its network renewal programme, of which £555m was for the renewal of roads including pavements. Under the Government’s Road Investment Strategy, Highways England will undertake a major programme of maintenance and renewal funded through the Investment Plan for the period 2015 - 2020. This includes an extensive programme of resurfacing to address ageing road surfaces and to minimise future maintenance liabilities.

Cycling: Safety

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to regulate bicycles to increase the safety of cyclists in built-up areas; and how they will ensure that any regulations are complied with.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: There are currently no plans for Her Majesty’s Government to further regulate bicycles. Bicycles are currently regulated under Statutory Instruments 2010 no 198, Consumer Protection, The Pedal Bicycles (Safety) Regulations 2010. The enforcement of cycling offences is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police. Officers can issue verbal warnings, fixed penalty notices or report the road user for formal prosecution.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

North Korea

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of any role played by the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in (1) sponsoring and aiding international terrorism; and (2) the abduction and attempted assassination of refugee North Korean activists; and what consideration they are giving to revising their travel advice for North Korea based upon these assessments.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice for North Korea reflects our latest assessment of the threat from terrorism to British nationals in North Korea. We keep our travel advice under constant review.We do not consider that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) poses a terrorist threat, nor are we aware of any recent incidents of the DPRK abducting or physically harming North Korean refugees. It is unlikely the DPRK would issue visas to any North Korean refugees considering visiting the DPRK, but anyone who has previously held North Korean nationality should take into account that the DPRK may still regard them as North Korean nationals.

Russia: Politics and Government

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what policies they are pursuing to reduce current tensions with Russia.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Government is clear that we must maintain dialogue with Russia, to avoid misunderstanding and escalation. The Prime Minister, my right Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), was clear in his phone call with President Putin last month that although we continue to have deep differences over issues such as Ukraine, the UK and Russia share mutual interests on certain global security dossiers such as Syria, combating the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and working towards a nuclear deal with Iran. We will look to work together on such matters whilst maintaining our firm position that Russia’s aggressive and destabilising actions in Ukraine are unacceptable.

Embassies: Flags

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there has been any change of policy by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regarding the flying of flags by British embassies.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: It is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)’s long-standing policy to fly the Union flag, national flags and the flags of Overseas Territories (on relevant days). The Union flag always takes priority and is flown from the FCO’s main flag pole at all times. It is never substituted by another flag.At our overseas posts the Union flag always takes precedence.

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the full estimated costs of holding the planned referendum on the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union; and whether there is a difference in the estimated costs depending on when the referendum is held.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: At this stage we are undertaking further analysis to establish the potential cost to the Consolidated Fund. This may include any variance of cost on different dates. Electoral Commission data shows that the last such UK-wide poll - the 2011 Parliamentary Voting System referendum - cost approximately £75million.

Conflict Resolution: Females

Baroness Helic: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to report on progress in implementing the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, and if so, when such a report will be published.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The third UK National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, covering the period 2014-17, was published in June 2014. In December 2014 we presented an Implementation Plan to Parliament, which set out our goals for action on this important issue in our priority countries: Afghanistan, Burma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, Somalia and Syria. The National Action Plan, jointly owned by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence, demonstrates our intention to put women and girls at the centre of all our efforts to prevent and resolve conflict; to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls; and to promote peace and stability internationally. We will report to Parliament on progress in implementing the National Action Plan in the autumn.

Israel

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the suspected arson attack on the Roman Catholic Church at Tabgha, what discussions they have had with the government of Israel concerning Zionist extremism.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: On 18 June officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv lobbied senior contacts in the Israeli National Security Council and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure quick and high level condemnation and action from the Israeli government to catch the perpetrators of this attack.On 19 June our Ambassador in Tel Aviv issued a local statement criticising the vandalising and burning of the Church "Loaves and Fishes" at the Kineret. He said "This was a disgusting act of disrespect at one of Christianity's holiest sites. The British Government welcomes the determination of the Israeli authorities to bring those responsible to justice.”

North Korea

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the statement by the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will take "merciless" steps against the planned opening of a United Nations office in Seoul to monitor human rights violations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The UK strongly welcomes the opening of the UN Human Rights Field Office in Seoul. As the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right Hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), has commented, this is an important step in improving monitoring of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Our Embassy in Seoul attended the UN Office’s opening ceremony on 23 June and confirmed to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights the UK’s readiness to support the work of the UN Office. The 29 May on-line statement by the DPRK’s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland is clearly regrettable and misguided. Such statements will do nothing to convince the international community that the DPRK is serious about addressing its human rights failings. The international community has legitimate concerns over the human rights situation in the DPRK and it is right that the UN Office has been established so we can continue to document the scope and details of accusations; maintain a spotlight on the situation; and work together to identify how human rights can be improved in the DPRK.

North Korea

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the British Ambassador to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is able to access the Kyo-hwa-so camps, the Kwan-li-so camps, the Ku-ryu-jang centres, the Jip-kyul-so prisons or the Ro-dong-dan-ryeondae centres; and how often the Embassy has requested access to those sites during the current Ambassador’s term.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The UK remains deeply concerned by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s use of political prison camps and by the severe and systematic violations of human rights within the DPRK penal system. During the last UN Universal Periodic Review of human rights in the DPRK the UK called for the closure of all prison camps. Together with other EU member states resident in Pyongyang, our Embassy has requested access to these camps on numerous occasions, and will continue to do so. However, the DPRK continues to refuse access by independent observers.

North Korea

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent meetings have taken place between officials of the British Embassy in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and that country's government; and what were the outcomes of those meetings.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Our Embassy in Pyongyang has met with a broad range of representatives from the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) since DPRK-imposed quarantine restrictions on all persons entering the DPRK (as a result of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa) were lifted in March. Meetings have included: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Ministry of External Economic Relations; the Korean People’s Army; the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries; the Commission for Education; and the DPRK Broadcasting Commission. The meetings supported the UK’s policy of critical engagement with the DPRK, which is focussed on building relationships to enable us to deliver messages of concern regarding the DPRK’s weapons programme and appalling human rights record.

North Korea

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what outcomes they have measured following the implementation of United Kingdom-funded cultural engagement projects in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Foreign and Commonwealth Office and British Council projects in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) support the Government’s objectives with regard to the DPRK, including human rights, exposure to the outside world and support to vulnerable groups. As elsewhere in the world, it can be difficult to measure the immediate impact of cultural engagement, which is intended to encourage better understanding in order to support engagement on more sensitive issues. We believe that by exposing North Koreans to British culture and values, we can open up the debate within DPRK society about issues such as human rights and democratic development.

Egypt

Lord Judd: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Egypt in the light of the reporting by Human Rights Watch about human rights abuses under President al-Sisi.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We raise our human rights concerns regularly with the Egyptian government, including some of the issues highlighted by Human Rights Watch. On 17 May, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), raised the death sentence for former President Morsi with the Egyptian Ambassador in London. We continue to believe that stability and prosperity in Egypt is dependent on open and inclusive politics and on full respect for the rights contained in the Egyptian constitution. That is why in recent months Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have asked the Egyptian authorities to take action to release journalists and political detainees who remain imprisoned, to review mass judicial decisions, and to remove restrictions on civil society.

Egypt

Lord Judd: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the short-, medium- and long-term consequences for the stability and security of the region of alleged human rights abuses and failings in the rule of law in Egypt under President al-Sisi.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The UK believes that progress on the economy, democracy and human rights are essential for security and stability in Egypt. We do not under-estimate the threat Egypt and the region face from terrorism and violent extremism, and we are committed to deepening our partnership with Egypt to defeat terrorist violence. But this must be done within a framework of respect for human rights.We urge the Egyptian authorities to apply the rule of law consistently in line with international standards, and to implement the rights contained in Egypt’s constitution by protecting the right to freedom of expression and association. In recent months, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have asked the Egyptian authorities to take action to release journalists and political detainees who remain imprisoned; to review mass judicial decisions; and to remove restrictions on civil society.During the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review in November 2014, we expressed our concern at the number of detainees in pre-trial detention; reports of mistreatment or torture; use of mass trials and trial irregularities; retention of the death penalty; and restrictions on Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Assembly as well as the decreasing space for civil society and the media to operate.

Mohammed Morsi

Lord Judd: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making at European and global level on behalf of the former President of Egypt Mohamed Morsi.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The British Government remains concerned about the sentencing to death of former President Morsi. On 17 May the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), raised the case with the Egyptian Ambassador in London.We have emphasised that it is vital that any judicial decisions are objective, transparent, and in accordance with the law. There are further stages in the legal process and we will continue to raise this issue with the Egyptian government.

Migration

Lord Judd: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what strategic estimates they are making of the likely growth in the number of political refugees, economic migrants and those displaced by conflict and climate change in the next five, 10, 20 and 50 years; and what plans they have to respond effectively to the political, social and economic consequences nationally and internationally.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The British Government conducts periodic strategic reviews of countries and thematic issues that affect UK interests and how we respond to them. Some of these global issues will generate medium and long term migrant flows, within and between regions around the World. These trends are extremely unpredictable and therefore difficult to forecast. The size and composition of migrant flows can also vary dramatically over time, given the large range of factors driving migration.We do, however, seek to identify and address the root causes. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s long term security and prosperity agendas aim to help create the right conditions for growth, security and stability, and the Department for International Development’s developmental and humanitarian assistance help provide the stable conditions that allow people to remain in their homelands.Furthermore, we have established a new, more strategic approach to work in conflict-affected states where the UK has key interests, with a £1 billion Conflict, Stability and Security Fund. It will help ensure our work in fragile or conflict-affected states supports the full range of UK objectives.

Libya

Lord Ahmed: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are aware of any British Libyans who took part in overthrowing Colonel Gaddafi; and whether any of them have since returned to the United Kingdom.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: I can confirm that we do not hold any information on this matter.

Iraq: Iran

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in line with the United States State Department admitted practice, United Kingdom officials based in Iraq continue to avoid visiting Camp Liberty; and whether they will place in the Library of the House the latest monitor's report by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq and those from the government of Iraq.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We continue to engage with the Government of Iraq on the welfare of the residents of Camp Liberty. Our Embassy in Baghdad regularly raises this issue with the Government of Iraq. We also support UN calls for more to be done to protect residents, but remain of the view that the Government of Iraq is responsible for security at the camp.Officials from our Embassy in Baghdad do not avoid visiting Camp Liberty. Embassy officials last visited the camp on 28 April to assess living conditions, which the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq judge to be well in excess of basic humanitarian standards. Officials plan to visit again soon, provided the security situation allows, and are arranging to meet with the residents’ representatives.While the Government of Iraq maintains records of the management of the camp, we are not aware of a regular, consolidated report produced by the government.The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq's monitoring reports have a restricted distribution. As we are not the owners of this information we are unable to place them in the Library of the House.

Iraq: Iran

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Iranian refugees with United Kingdom connections have been assessed in either Camp Ashraf or Camp Liberty since they were first left to the responsibility of the government of Iraq; how many such refugees have been admitted to the United Kingdom in the interim; and what assessment they have made of how many refugees overall have died as a result of (1) violence, or (2) lack of access to proper medical care.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We have re-admitted four individuals from Camp Ashraf who hold valid UK travel documents. The Home Office exceptionally agreed to consider whether 52 residents of Camp Liberty previously settled in the UK, but who left many years ago, should be readmitted. Seventeen residents approved for resettlement in the UK by the Home Office are now in the UK. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has also referred 34 further residents and a decision from the Home Office is pending. We do not keep records of fatalities at Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty. We continue to engage with the Government of Iraq on the welfare of the residents of Camp Liberty. Our Embassy in Baghdad regularly raises this issue with the Government of Iraq. We support UN calls for more to be done to protect residents, but remain of the view that the Government of Iraq is responsible for security at the camp. Officials from our Embassy visited Camp Liberty on 28 April and stated that the camp hospital and dentist clinic appeared well maintained and stocked. UN Assistance Mission for Iraq monitors confirmed that, when needed residents, are permitted to leave the camp to attend hospital appointments and for treatment.

Libya

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they plan to take to help prevent people traffickers from operating on Libyan territory.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: At the Foreign Affairs Council on 22 June EU members agreed to launch a military Common Security and Defence Policy operation to disrupt the business model of the smugglers and traffickers. This will be conducted in a phased approach starting with surveillance and intelligence work. The UK is making an appropriate contribution to the EU’s mission by deploying HMS Enterprise and a Merlin helicopter.To stop the flows reaching Libya in the first place, we are engaging with source and transit countries to address the causes why migrants leave their home countries, through development aid, humanitarian support, addressing human rights abuses and tackling conflict. The UK is a member of the Core Group of the Khartoum Process, which will be important in developing collaboration between EU and source/transit countries. The initial focus will be on developing concrete actions to combat people smuggling and trafficking on the Horn of Africa/East Africa migratory route. The Department for International Development is helping shape the EU’s development spending to effectively address the root causes of migration across Africa and the Middle East.The UK is working to bring order and stability in Libya to make it a more difficult operating environment for smugglers and traffickers. That is why the UK urges all parties in the Libyan political dialogue led by UN Special Representative of the Secretary General, Bernadino Leon, to sign an agreement and establish a representative Government of National Accord (GNA). Only a stable and representative GNA can deal with the political and security challenges Libya faces, including the control of its borders. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), and our diplomatic network have intensively lobbied Libyan negotiators and regional governments in support of the agreement. We welcome regional efforts and those of the African Union and others in support of the process.

Libya

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have discussed with the government of Libya the possibility of compensation for United Kingdom victims of terrorism carried out using weaponry supplied by the former Gaddafi regime to the IRA; and if so, when.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We do not intend to negotiate a compensation settlement with the Libyan authorities. Once stability returns and our Embassy re-opens, we will again encourage the Libyans to engage with UK victims seeking redress, including those seeking compensation, and their legal representatives. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), is committed to doing this and has tasked the National Security Advisor to lead cross-government efforts to engage the Libyans on reconciliation initiatives. The British Government will also continue to promote broad and lasting reconciliation between Libya and affected UK communities.The UK has urged all parties to cease all hostilities and support the UN process led by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Bernardino Leon.

Sudan

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Sudan regarding the continued imprisonment and persecution of the Reverend Yat Michael and the Reverend Peter Reith.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: I refer the noble Bishop to my answer of 22 June to the noble Baroness Cox (HL315), that our Embassy in Khartoum has previously raised these cases with the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since then we have maintained close contact with the legal teams working on behalf of the two pastors, and an official from our Embassy in Khartoum attended the latest court hearing on 15 June. We will continue to co-ordinate with other Embassies in Khartoum to ensure the international community is represented at the ongoing legal proceedings.

Syria

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to press for the referral of possible war crimes in Syria by all combatants to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court; and who, if anyone, records all breaches of international humanitarian law.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The UK has consistently called for the situation in Syria to be referred to the International Criminal Court and supported efforts at the UN Security Council to achieve this. However, these efforts were blocked by Russia and China on 22 May 2014. In partnership with other donor countries, we have funded the collection of documentary evidence of human rights abuses and violations. We will also look to expand the EU sanctions regime to cover more people responsible for human rights abuses and violations. We will continue to press for those responsible to be held accountable.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Engineering

Lord Bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to increase the numbers of people being trained in engineering at (1) apprentice level, (2) high technical level, and (3) graduate level.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The Government is making a series of interventions to increase the number of engineers. We are inspiring young people to consider engineering careers through the your-life campaign, tomorrow’s engineer’s week, STEM ambassadors in schools and improved careers advice. We are committed to 3m apprenticeships starts this parliament and many of the new employer-led trailblazer apprenticeships standards are in the engineering and manufacturing sector. Final data for the 13/14 academic year show that there were 64,800 apprenticeship starts in the engineering and manufacturing technologies sector subject area, an increase of 52% on 2009/10. We have made additional funding available for HE within Higher Apprenticeships and for 20,000 more higher apprenticeship to provide apprentices with high level technical skills that employers need. We have also established national colleges to address skills gaps in sectors key to the economy to provide high level technical skills –colleges announced so far include advanced manufacturing, high speed rail, nuclear, oil, gas and wind. We have also made available £30m funding to employers to address skills shortages in engineering. In HE we have provided £200 million capital investment for teaching facilities and £185 million for teaching of high cost subjects such as engineering. We have also provided £6m for the development of an engineering conversion pilot to enable qualified non-engineering graduates to pursue a career in engineering.

Copyright

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the draft own-initiative report of proposal to the European Parliament that commercial use of photographs or video footage, or other images of works which are permanently located in physical public places, should always be subject to prior consent from the authors or any proxy acting for them.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: Section 62 of the Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act (1988) permits the photographing and filming of certain artistic works and buildings permanently situated in a public place or in premises open to the public, without prior consent from the owners of copyright in those works. This exception to copyright protection has existed in UK law for over a hundred years, and represents an important freedom for photographers and film-makers, whether amateur or professional. The Government does not support any restriction to this exception, such as a requirement that prohibits commercial use without prior consent. The Government recognises the diversity of EU Member States’ laws in this area and strongly believes Member States should retain their current discretion in this area of law.

Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces Covenant

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 27 June (HL501) regarding the distribution of the armed forces covenant (Libor) fund, who selected the charities for funding; when; and on what basis.

Earl Howe: In 2013, the Government made £35 million available to deliver Armed Forces Covenant commitments from fines levied on banks for the attempted manipulation of Libor. The cross-Government Covenant Reference Group, which is chaired by the Cabinet Office and includes representatives from key Government Departments, the Devolved Administrations, the Service charity sector, and the three Service Families Federations, set the priorities for the fund. The first two tranches focused on mental health and support for Service families, while the third tranche was open to any project meeting the principles of the Covenant. In 2014, a further £40 million of Libor funds were made available specifically to support veterans with a housing need via the Veterans Accommodation Fund (VAF). The criteria and application process for both schemes were published on gov.uk. Both funds were administered by the Armed Forces Covenant team. Against the agreed priorities, applicants had to demonstrate evidence of need, experience of providing a service and value for money. A decision panel was convened to agree the final allocation of funding. The panel for the £35 million fund sat three times between 2012 and 2014 and included representatives from the Ministry of Defence Covenant and Financial Governance teams, H M Treasury, COBSEO, the three Service Families Federations, and the Welsh and Scottish Governments. The panel for the VAF sat on 7 July 2014 and included representatives from the Ministry of Defence Covenant and Financial Governance teams, H M Treasury, the Welsh and Scottish Governments, the Army Families Federation, The Royal British Legion and COBSEO Housing Cluster.

Mediterranean Sea: Refugees

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what alternative measures are being discussed to assist search-and-rescue operations in the Mediterranean after the withdrawal of HMS Bulwark.

Earl Howe: Having completed her deployment, HMS BULWARK was withdrawn on 3 July 2015 for planned maintenance. HMS ENTERPRISE and a Merlin helicopter have been deployed on the European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy operation, launched on 22 June 2015 to disrupt the people smugglers' networks and destroy their boats. But, like all shipping, HMS ENTERPRISE will continue to rescue migrants in distress, as directed by the Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre.In addition, we are contributing HMC PROTECTOR and HMC SEEKER, two of the Home Office's Border Force Cutter fleet, in order to support search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean.

Strategic Defence and Security Review

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to consult with non-governmental organisations on the Strategic Defence and Security Review; and if so, what the process will be.

Earl Howe: The 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review is a full review of the threats we face and the capabilities we need to tackle them. It will consider how best to deploy our defence, diplomacy, development aid and homeland security efforts together. As part of this work, we will engage with a range of audiences, including non-governmental organisations.

Strategic Defence and Security Review

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to establish the position of a dedicated senior military officer committed to the women, peace and security agenda in the next Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Earl Howe: The Ministry of Defence has already established a senior military officer, General Gordon Messenger (Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, Military Strategy and Operations), as our Women, Peace and Security and Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative champion.

Strategic Defence and Security Review

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to provide for appointing gender advisers on all United Kingdom operations in the next Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Earl Howe: The Ministry of Defence deploys gender advisers based on mission-specific requirements. On many missions, for example Afghanistan, the United Kingdom also utilises the services of NATO ally gender advisors. The Ministry of Defence is currently examining the numbers, training and need for military gender advisers but this work is outside the Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Army Reserve: Recruitment

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many soldiers were recruited to the Army Reserve between 2012 and 2015.

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many soldiers serving in the Army Reserve have left in each year since 2012.

Earl Howe: The total number recruited into the Army Reserve (officers and soldiers) between 2012 and 2015 is 12,130.This breaks down as: 2012-132013-142014-15Total3,9602,9605,210 The total number leaving the Army Reserve (officers and soldiers) since 2012 is 12,680.This breaks down as: 2012-132013-142014-15Total4,7104,6203,350 All figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

Department for Work and Pensions

Employment: Disability

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people they expect to find jobs as a result of the Disability Confident campaign.

Baroness Altmann: The Disability Confident campaign makes the business case for recruiting and retaining more disabled people and aims to increase the number of employers taking positive action to be more disability confident. We are not able to measure the number of disabled people moving into employment as a direct result of it, but the campaign is an important contributor towards our commitment to halve the gap between the employment rates of disabled and non-disabled people.

Families

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Baroness Altmann on 22 June, how they have calculated that £1 spent on advice yields approximately £11.50 in savings.

Baroness Altmann: This calculation was derived from an independent review commissioned by the Department for Education. The information is available in the Department for Education’s Relationship Support Interventions Evaluation, published in 2014. This sets out a detailed explanation of how the savings were calculated using a cost benefit analysis.

Work Programme

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people, after two years on the Work Programme, (1) obtained a job, and (2) returned to the jobcentre, in each year since 2010.

Lord Freud: The Department does not collect official statistics on job starts made by Work Programme participants. Information is collected on the job outcomes paid to Work Programme providers for getting people into sustained employment. The cumulative number of job outcomes paid (June 2011-March 2015) for people who have completed their allotted time on the Work Programme is 344,900. The information requested for the number of people who have returned to the Jobcentre on completing the Work Programme is published by month of completion and can be found in the table below. It should be noted that the first applicable month was May 2013 and data is currently available up to 31 March 2015.   Current Work Programme Status Completed allotted time: returned to JCP at 104 weeksCompleted allotted time: returned to JCP post 104 weeksMay-131,100170Jun-1358,7108,820Jul-1373,23011,210Aug-1345,1607,840Sep-1343,7507,770Oct-1344,7008,170Nov-1343,4407,480Dec-1338,2506,820Jan-1446,4408,340Feb-1440,5507,050Mar-1439,0307,060Apr-1430,5306,030May-1428,2005,600Jun-1428,8005,400Jul-1430,8105,570Aug-1423,7804,280Sep-1427,7204,530Oct-1427,7303,900Nov-1429,6303,120Dec-1424,4702,140Jan-1530,9402,160Feb-1519,810980Mar-1518,770270

Pension Funds

Lord Harrison: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 7 January (HL Deb, col 432), when they plan to consult on improving transparency for pension savers regarding where their money is invested and how rights attached to it are being exercised; and when they plan to consider how secondary legislation could be used to ensure greater transparency for pension savers.

Baroness Altmann: The Government is committed to ensuring greater transparency for pension savers. From April this year, workplace schemes are required to report on the value delivered by costs and charges in their scheme for the first time. Building on this, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Financial Conduct Authority ran a joint Call for Evidence ‘Transaction Cost Disclosure: Improving Transparency in Workplace Pensions’, considering how transaction costs could be disclosed in a standardised way. This is the first phase of work required to meet duties under Section 44 of the Pensions Act 2014 to require transaction costs to be disclosed to members and others; and transaction costs and administration charges to be published. The Government is currently considering responses to the Call for Evidence. Transparency is not just about costs and charges. Earlier this year the Government consulted on changes to the Occupational Pension Schemes Investment Regulations requiring trustees to report how they take financial and non-financial factors into account when investing, and their schemes stewardship policy. The Government is currently considering responses to the consultation. The Government intends to consult on any secondary legislation required following these exercises later this year, and will consider what further proposals may be needed to ensure greater transparency for pension savers including consideration both of its duties under the Pensions Act 2014 and the remarks made in debates on 7 January.

Universal Credit: Disqualification

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many sanctions have been applied to Universal Credit claimants in each month since the roll-out began.

Lord Freud: I refer the noble Baroness to the answer I gave on 16 June 2015 to her Question number HL 402:  Baroness Lister of Burtersett :To ask Her Majesty’s Government: whether they have plans to publish statistics on sanctions imposed under the universal credit scheme as it is brought into effect.  Lord Freud: The Department published its strategy for releasing official statistics on Universal Credit in September 2013. As outlined in the strategy, officials are quality assuring data for Universal Credit and formulating a definitive list of what statistics will be provided in the future. These statistics will be published in accordance with the relevant protocols in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

Social Security Benefits: Immigrants

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 24 June (HL540), whether they plan to make such assessments in future; and if not, why not.

Lord Freud: Although data regarding claimant nationality is not currently recorded on benefit payment systems, Universal Credit will record such data, when EEA nationals are able to claim. The Department has no plans to make specific assessments regarding Polish nationals when such data becomes available. However, we will continue to monitor EEA nationals’ access to benefits more generally. The Prime Minister has made clear that further steps are needed to reform welfare to reduce the incentives which have led to mass immigration from the EU.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Assets

Baroness Parminter: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 22 June (HL330), what assets are currently owned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its non-departmental public bodies; and what prospective asset sales are under review by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: A summary of Defra’s assets and their Net Book Value as at 31 March 2015 will be published in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts (ARA) in due course. Defra’s ARAs are available on the gov.uk website.   The table below shows a list of freehold property owned by the Department as at June 2015 which has been identified as a prospective asset sale, together with a summary of the status of the sale. Freehold property is the only category of asset likely to generate any significant sales. The list includes assets owned by Core Defra, its Executive Agencies and Non-Departmental Public Bodies. Property NamePost Town CommentsGARSTANG VICPrestonSite under review as part of 2015-2020 property plan. Potential disposal 2016/17.WORCESTER WHITTINGTON ROADWorcesterSite under offer with completion anticipated in January 2016.TAUNTON QUANTOCK HOUSETauntonSite under offer with completion expected in July 2015.BURY ST EDMUNDSBury St EdmundsSite under offer with completion expected in September 2015.ITCHEN ABBAS VICWinchesterSite being vacated. Anticipated disposal 2016/17.ELY ARTHUR RICKWOOD FARMElySite under offer. Completion expected by March 2016.STRATFORD LUDDINGTON VICStratford Upon AvonSite vacated and marketing underway. Completion expected by March 2016.REACH LODE PITSUpwareSurplus land - currently being marketed.SPORTSMANS PITSwaffham BulbeckSurplus land - currently being marketed.FENCED ACRE CLAY PITMepalSurplus land - currently being marketed.RELIEF CHANNELNorfolkSurplus land - being prepared for market.HUNDRED FOOT RIVEREarithSurplus land - currently being marketed.HUNDRED FOOT WASHESSuttonSurplus land - currently being marketed.HAVEN RIVER: FORMER MUSSEL WASHING PLANTBostonSurplus - currently being marketed.LAVENDON MILLOlneySurplus weir – currently being marketed.RIVER ANT (LUDHAM BRIDGE)Great YarmouthSurplus land - not on the market yet. Plan to dispose in 2017/18.STEEPING RIVER & WAINFLEETSaints, LincsSurplus land - under offer.RIVER GLAVEN CLEY NEXT THE SEAHoltSurplus land - under offer.THE SHANTYGloucesterSurplus part of Flood Alleviation Scheme - not on the market -planned for 2017/18.BECKINGHAM MARSHESNottinghamSurplus part of Flood Alleviation Scheme - under offer.OLD RIVER DRAINScunthorpeSurplus part of Flood Alleviation Scheme - currently being marketed.HULL PLOT 38, WATTON NATURE RESERVEDriffieldSurplus nature reserve – currently being marketed.2 GREAT CULVERT P.S. HOUSEHullSurplus house - being prepared for market.1 TICKTON P.S. HOUSEBeverleySurplus house - being prepared for market.2 TICKTON P.S. HOUSEBeverleySurplus house - being prepared for market.1 INGS LANE, RICCALLYorkSurplus house - being prepared for market.KILLINGTON R. LUNE BROADRAINESedberghSurplus fishing rights - under offer.SLAIDBURN WITCHER WELL DUNSOPClitheroeSurplus fish hatchery - being prepared for market.46 BANKS ROAD, CROSSENSSouthportSurplus house - currently being marketed.FERRING RIFE, HIGHDOWN WAYWorthingSurplus land - plan to market in 2016/17.FERRING RIFE, LANGBURY LANEWorthingSurplus land - plan to market in 2016/17.FERRING RIFE, OVAL WAYEWorthingSurplus land - plan to market in 2016/17.LIME KILN COTTAGERyeSurplus nature reserve - negotiations underway.

HM Treasury

Economic and Monetary Union

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the European Union Five Presidents' Report published on 22 June recommending the ceding of powers by member states to European Union institutions and the creation of a eurozone treasury.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: The Report is part of an ongoing process to identify next steps to better governance in the euro area.   The government’s position is that the UK benefits from the Single Market, and does not want to stand in the way of the euro area resolving its difficulties. But we will not let the integration of the euro area jeopardise the integrity of the Single Market or in any way disadvantage the UK.   That is one of the important objectives we seek in our renegotiation with the EU.

International Monetary Fund

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the United Kingdom's financial involvement in the International Monetary Fund; and what percentage of the whole it comprises.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is primarily a quota-based institution. The UK’s quota subscription to the IMF is 10,738.5 million Special Drawing Rights, equivalent to £10,009 million at 31 March 2015. This accounts for 4.5% of total quotas at the IMF.   There are a number of other financial arrangements and associated transactions between the UK and the IMF. The IMF routinely publishes information on its members’ financial positions in the IMF, including for the UK. The Government also publishes complementary information in the annual accounts of the National Loans Fund and Exchange Equalisation Account.   Further details are available on the IMF and gov.uk websites.[1]  [1] http://www.imf.org/external/np/fin/tad/exfin1.aspx https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-central-funds

Public Sector Debt

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of recent research by the Taxpayers' Alliance indicating that the United Kingdom's true national debt is £8.6 trillion.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: According to the latest Public Sector Finances release (May 2015) produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Public Sector Net Debt (PSND) stands at £1.5 trillion. This is the government’s usual measure of debt, and the measure on the basis of which the official forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) are produced. The number quoted by the Taxpayers’ Alliance includes many future and government liabilities not generally included in debt figures and it does not include corresponding future assets, physical assets, illiquid financial assets or future revenues.

Occupational Pensions

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to extend the right of access to pension funds available to employees in the private sector to those working in the public sector; and if not, why not.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: The Government has no current plans to extend the pension flexibilities to members of unfunded, defined benefit, public service pension schemes. The last Government restricted transfers from unfunded, defined benefit, public service pension schemes to those arrangements from which the member may acquire a right or entitlement to flexible benefits in order to protect the taxpayer from the increased in-year costs that would result should a large number of members of such schemes elect to transfer out to a scheme providing flexible access to pension pots.   In an unfunded public service pension scheme, there is no fund of assets with which to finance transfer payments. Instead, they are funded from contributions from current members and their employers, and through general expenditure.   Therefore, should the introduction of the flexibilities have led to an increase in the number of members transferring out of their unfunded public service scheme to a scheme providing flexible benefits, there would have been a direct cost to Government. For every extra pound paid out in transfers, the Government would have had one less pound to spend that year on public services.   The Government estimates that if 1% of all public service workers reaching retirement took their benefits flexibly, it could cost the tax payer £200m a year. The Government does not think it is fair to ask taxpayers to meet such in-year costs.   Members of funded, defined benefit, public service pension schemes, such as the Local Government Pension Scheme, continue to be able to transfer. This is because there is a fund of assets available for use to meet the cost of the transfers. Government took the decision to treat funded schemes differently for this reason, extending freedom and choice to as many individuals as possible.

Pensions

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what systems are in place to assess and evaluate the new pension freedoms.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: As part of their Retirement Income Market Study, the Financial Conduct Authority have committed to monitoring the retirement market in order to assess consumer behaviour and outcomes; and to use their wide-ranging powers to intervene where necessary. The Treasury will also be consulting in July to ensure that people are treated fairly when moving their pension to a company that offers them flexible options and are not charged excessive early exit penalties.

Northern Ireland Office

Stormont House Agreement

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they plan to take if the Stormont House Agreement is not fully implemented by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Lord Dunlop: The full implementation of the Stormont House Agreement offers the best way to build a brighter, more secure future for Northern Ireland. The Government will do what is necessary to implement our obligations under the Agreement and expects the Northern Ireland Executive parties to do the same.

Department of Health

Mental Health Services

Baroness Manzoor: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to achieve "parity of esteem" between acute and mental health services, both with regard to access and the provision of health services, through the increase in the number of general practitioners in primary care settings.

Lord Prior of Brampton: We have legislated for parity of esteem between mental and physical health via the Health and Social Care Act 2012.   The 2014-15 Mandate to NHS England sets a clear objective for NHS England to deliver parity of esteem. The Mandate also makes clear that ‘everyone who needs it should have timely access to evidence-based [mental health] services’.   We have invested over £120 million in order to introduce for the first time waiting times standards for a number of mental health services – a very significant milestone on the road to parity.  The Government will hold the National Health Service to account for achieving the objectives set out in the NHS Mandate for 2014-15 and the refreshed Mandate for 2015-16.  Spending on mental health is estimated to have increased by £302 million in 2014-15, with total mental health spending rising from £11.362 billion in 2013-14 to £11.664 billion planned in 2014-15, an increase of 0.6% in real terms. In the planning requirements for 2015-16, commissioners were required to invest additionally in mental health in line with their increase in allocation. The total planned additional spend is £376 million, an increase of 4.5%.   NHS England published planning guidance for 2015-16 which made the expectation clear that each clinical commissioning group’s (CCGs) spending on mental health services in 2015-16 should increase in real terms, and grow by at least the same percentage as each CCG’s allocation increase.   The Government is committed to increasing the primary and community care workforce to make available 10,000 primary care staff including an estimated 5,000 more doctors working in general practice by 2020. We have backed this commitment with £10 million of funding and a joint plan between NHS England, Health Education England, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the British Medical Association, to increase the GP workforce.   The Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) is the annual reward and incentive programme detailing GP practice achievement results. A number of mental health indicators are included in the QOF. It rewards practices for the provision of quality care and helps to standardise improvements in the delivery of clinical care. The mental health indicators help to drive improvements in the care and monitoring of patients with depression, bipolar disorder, psychoses and other mental illnesses.